14 research outputs found
The Josephson heat interferometer
The Josephson effect represents perhaps the prototype of macroscopic phase
coherence and is at the basis of the most widespread interferometer, i.e., the
superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Yet, in analogy to
electric interference, Maki and Griffin predicted in 1965 that thermal current
flowing through a temperature-biased Josephson tunnel junction is a stationary
periodic function of the quantum phase difference between the superconductors.
The interplay between quasiparticles and Cooper pairs condensate is at the
origin of such phase-dependent heat current, and is unique to Josephson
junctions. In this scenario, a temperature-biased SQUID would allow heat
currents to interfere thus implementing the thermal version of the electric
Josephson interferometer. The dissipative character of heat flux makes this
coherent phenomenon not less extraordinary than its electric (non-dissipative)
counterpart. Albeit weird, this striking effect has never been demonstrated so
far. Here we report the first experimental realization of a heat
interferometer. We investigate heat exchange between two normal metal
electrodes kept at different temperatures and tunnel-coupled to each other
through a thermal `modulator' in the form of a DC-SQUID. Heat transport in the
system is found to be phase dependent, in agreement with the original
prediction. With our design the Josephson heat interferometer yields
magnetic-flux-dependent temperature oscillations of amplitude up to ~21 mK, and
provides a flux-to-temperature transfer coefficient exceeding ~ 60mK/Phi_0 at
235 mK [Phi_0 2* 10^(-15) Wb is the flux quantum]. Besides offering remarkable
insight into thermal transport in Josephson junctions, our results represent a
significant step toward phase-coherent mastering of heat in solid-state
nanocircuits, and pave the way to the design of novel-concept coherent
caloritronic devices.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 color figure
Rectification of electronic heat current by a hybrid thermal diode
We report the realization of an ultra-efficient low-temperature hybrid heat
current rectifier, thermal counterpart of the well-known electric diode. Our
design is based on a tunnel junction between two different elements: a normal
metal and a superconducting island. Electronic heat current asymmetry in the
structure arises from large mismatch between the thermal properties of these
two. We demonstrate experimentally temperature differences exceeding mK
between the forward and reverse thermal bias configurations. Our device offers
a remarkably large heat rectification ratio up to and allows its
prompt implementation in true solid-state thermal nanocircuits and
general-purpose electronic applications requiring energy harvesting or thermal
management and isolation at the nanoscale.Comment: 8 pages, 6 color figure
Nanoscale phase-engineering of thermal transport with a Josephson heat modulator
Macroscopic quantum phase coherence has one of its pivotal expressions in the
Josephson effect [1], which manifests itself both in charge [2] and energy
transport [3-5]. The ability to master the amount of heat transferred through
two tunnel-coupled superconductors by tuning their phase difference is the core
of coherent caloritronics [4-6], and is expected to be a key tool in a number
of nanoscience fields, including solid state cooling [7], thermal isolation [8,
9], radiation detection [7], quantum information [10, 11] and thermal logic
[12]. Here we show the realization of the first balanced Josephson heat
modulator [13] designed to offer full control at the nanoscale over the
phase-coherent component of thermal currents. Our device provides
magnetic-flux-dependent temperature modulations up to 40 mK in amplitude with a
maximum of the flux-to-temperature transfer coefficient reaching 200 mK per
flux quantum at a bath temperature of 25 mK. Foremost, it demonstrates the
exact correspondence in the phase-engineering of charge and heat currents,
breaking ground for advanced caloritronic nanodevices such as thermal splitters
[14], heat pumps [15] and time-dependent electronic engines [16-19].Comment: 6+ pages, 4 color figure
Electronic Coolers Based on Superconducting Tunnel Junctions: Fundamentals and Applications
Airway inflammation in cadmium-exposed rats is associated with pulmonary oxidative stress and emphysema
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pulmonary inflammation and emphysema induced by cadmium (Cd) inhalation are associated with pulmonary oxidative stress. Two groups of Sprague Dawley rats were used: one vehicle-exposed group undergoing inhalation of NaCl (0.9%, n = 24) and one Cd-exposed group undergoing inhalation of CdCl(2) (0.1%, n = 24). The animals in the vehicle-and Cd-exposed groups were divided into 4 subgroups (n = 6 per group), which underwent either a single exposure (D2) of 1H or repeated exposures 3 times/week for 1H for a period of 3 weeks (3W), 5 weeks (5W) or 5 weeks followed by 2 weeks without exposure (5W + 2). At sacrifice, the left lung was fixed for histomorphometric analysis (median inter-wall distance, MIWD), whilst bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from the right lung. Cytological analysis of BALF was performed and BALF was analysed for oxidant markers 8-iso-PGF(2a), uric acid (UA), reduced (AA) and oxidised ascorbic acid (DHA) and reduced (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG). Cd-exposure induced a significant increase of BALF macrophages and neutrophils. 8-iso-PGF(2a), UA, GSH and GSSG were significantly increased at D2. At 5W and 5W + 2, AA and GSH were significantly lower in Cd-exposed rats, indicating antioxidant depletion. MIWD significantly increased in all repeatedly Cd-exposed groups, suggesting development of pulmonary emphysema. 8-iso-PGF(2a) and UA were positively correlated with macrophage and neutrophil counts. GSH, GSSG and 8-iso-PGF(2a) were negatively correlated with MIWD, indicating that Cd-induced emphysema could be associated with pulmonary oxidative stress